There’s something relaxing about sending lead down range. The gentle *pop*pop* of the rifle, the soft breeze from the air handlers, and the refreshing scent of spent gun powder create an almost Zen-like atmosphere. It’s not all peace and tranquility though. While the act of placing angelic little holes in paper well out of your reach is calm and serene, getting all your loose gear to and from the range can be frustrating. Trying to hold onto your rifle, extra mags, and ammo while walking from the car to the gun store can be a dicey situation at best with one wrong move seeing your highly customized AR-15 slide across the asphalt!

So when 5.11 Tactical approached me and asked if I’d like to review one of their range bags, I was floored! A bag to carry all your rifle gear in? BRILLIANT! Why hadn’t anyone told me such wonderful things existed?

5.11 makes several gun cases and offered to send me their AR 15 case. After years of waddling to the lane with a rifle in one armpit and magazines hanging out of my pockets, I was more than happy to accept!

First, a little “copy & paste” magic from their website.

1,050-denier nylon

Water resistant

Exterior and interior molle compatible panels

YKK® zippers

Top and bottom compression straps

Removable shoulder strap

Hook-and-loop lashing points

Internal Measurements 37-1/4 x 12 x 3 1/2

It’s a soft case, but the interior padding gives it a firm shape which is great for supporting your rifle and accessories. The exterior pocket is also padded and can hold all your magazines. If you’re a molle type operator, there’s a bazillion loops for you to hang your gear from. It has a handle for holding onto, top and bottom compression straps to really keep things tight, and a removable shoulder strap.

While the outside pockets are great for storing the extras, where this case really shines is inside. Not only is the padding firm, but there are extra dividers in the corners and Velcro lashing strips inside to really secure the rifle for transport. With just a few tugs on the strips, your rifle ain’t budging at all.

Going nowhere and looking good while doing it!

Possibly the best thing about the case? It fits the KRISS Vector like a glove

Feel free to squee.

This bag has been to range several times now. It feels nice and rugged and while I’m not operating in environments harsher than an outdoor range, I’m pretty confident it’s going to last me for many years to come.

Of course, there are two items I wasn’t overly impressed with. I don’t want you all to think that I’m nothing but sunshine and bubblegum in my reviews, and if there are issues I feel compelled to point them out.

First and foremost, this is a 36” case. It absolutely will not fit a Mosin Nagant M44 with a synthetic Monte Carlo stock, especially with the bayonet out. Trust me. I tried.

Disappointing, I know!

Finally, while the packet of desiccant included was more than adequate for two people, I think the one I got was stale. Not only did it taste terrible, but it left my mouth dry for hours. As tempting as it seems, I recommend that you avoid eating the stuff

Overall though, it’s a nice bag and much better than trying to strap together all your gear using old grocery bags and twine. Much better looking too.

FTC Disclaimer – My rump is not as tough as 1,050-denier nylon (I don’t even know what 1,050-denier nylon means) but it can easily withstand your kissing.

I can honestly say that I got caught in a downpour a few weeks ago and it did just shrug it off. I didn't stand outside in the rain, it was a dash between the store and my car, but I didn't notice any wetness inside when I got home.

But I am now wondering if it's worth twice the price. My range is outdoors and I can literally back up my truck within 15 feet of the firing line, so I don't need to carry my life in the same case necessarily...

Don't know about your laws, but up here in Ohio, if we have to Transport Firearms in the Vehicles, we have to keep the Guns and Ammo separate from each other, unless we put them in a Rack, Action Open, and Ammo NOT in Reach, and in Plain View (but that's just asking to have your Gun Stolen nowadays). CHP has different Rules, but just look what happened up in Canton, Ohio, even when you play by them.

Having said all that, I'm thinking about getting a couple of those cases for use in my Car. They don't scream "Gun Inside! Steal it Now!" like the old style gun cases do. Thanks for the Review.

It's a shame they took a decent discrete carry case and added features that hint that the contents are gun/military connected. That's just plain stupid. There is no real justification for adding molle attaching points to the outside. The case is going to be heavy enough with the expected contents, without adding dangly bits festooned all over the exterior. Unless the targeted/expected buyers are the type that just want the world to think they are "operators". That, and the large 5.11 emblem on the outside (rolleyes)

If there were no other options, I'd be taking an x-acto knife to all that extraneous stuff, to remove it. However, there are other makers out there. (got to be careful, here, as sometimes the stitching holds interior stuff also)

5.11's incessant need to mark EVERYTHING on the outside with their logo just bugs the hell out of me. If I was the type that wanted to wear logos on my clothing, it would all have little alligators, I suppose.

If you are going to PIMP for these people, couldn't you at least get us a break on the price and a link to that price? I mean, really, do you have the continental kit and the 22 in. wheels on your pickup yet?